The New Mexico Human Services Department recently received $924,895 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to improve the state's Emergency Food Assistance Program. Kari Armijo, acting secretary for the New Mexico Human Services Department, highlighted the significance of this funding, stating that the establishment of mobile food pantries will play a crucial role in eradicating hunger in rural and isolated communities across Northern New Mexico.
“We’re thrilled to work with our partners, Roadrunner Food Bank, The Food Depot, The Community Pantry, and ECHO Inc. to expand fresh food storage and increase access to healthy food in rural New Mexico,” said Armijo, according to a press release. “Establishing mobile food pantries will help us end hunger in rural, isolated communities throughout Northern New Mexico by getting healthy food directly to the communities who need it.”
According to a press release, the New Mexico Human Services Department (HSD) has been granted $924,895 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to enhance The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) in remote, rural, tribal, and low-income areas. The funds will be utilized to expand mobile distribution options, improve freezing and cooling facilities to ensure food freshness, and establish new partnerships, enabling the program to effectively serve all those in need.
The New Mexico Human Services Department (HSD) plans to expand the Reach and Resiliency of TEFAP through a two-round initiative. In round one, HSD is working with four regional TEFAP partners, namely Roadrunner Food Bank, The Food Depot, The Community Pantry, and ECHO Inc., to establish sustainable mobile pantries or on-site pantries in specific remote, rural, and tribal communities that currently do not receive TEFAP foods. The goal is to increase food accessibility in these underserved areas. In round two, the project efforts will extend to additional communities in need, further enhancing TEFAP's reach and impact according to the press release.
TEFAP provides low income populations emergency food assistance at no cost. According to the press release, through the program, the USDA distributes nutritious, high-quality foods to state agencies which are funneled to local emergency food providers, – such as food banks – which distribute the food to local emergency food organizations that serve the public directly.